Ensuring STEM Literacy: a National Conference on STEM Education and Public Outreach ASP Conference Series, Vol. 483 James G. Manning, Joseph B. Jensen, Mary Kay Hemenway, and Michael G. Gibbs, eds. c  2014 Astronomical Society of the Pacific Training Young Astronomers in EPO: An Update on the AAS Astronomy Ambassadors Program Andrew Fraknoi, 1 Richard Tresch Fienberg, 2 Suzanne Gurton, 3 Anna Hurst Schmitt, 3 Dennis Schatz, 4 and Edward E. Prather 5 1 Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills, California 94022, USA 2 American Astronomical Society, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20009, USA 3 Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, California 94112, USA 4 Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. North, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA 5 Center for Astronomy Education, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Abstract. The American Astronomical Society, with organizations active in EPO, has launched professional-development workshops and a community of practice to help improve early-career astronomers’ ability to communicate effectively. Called “Astron- omy Ambassadors,” the program provides mentoring and training for participants, from advanced undergraduates to beginning faculty. By learning to implement effective EPO strategies, Ambassadors become better teachers, meeting presenters, and representa- tives of our science to the public and government. Because young astronomers are a more diverse group than those who now do most outreach, they help the astronomy community present a more multicultural and gender-balanced face to the public, en- abling underserved groups to see themselves as scientists. Ambassadors are given a library of outreach activities and materials, including many developed by cooperating organizations such as the ASP, plus some that have been created by Andrew Fraknoi specifically for this program. 1. Introduction The American Astronomical Society (AAS), in partnership with the Astronomical So- ciety of the Pacific (ASP), members of the Center for Astronomy Education (CAE), and other organizations active in science education and public outreach (EPO), has launched a series of professional-development workshops and a Community of Practice designed to help improve early-career astronomers’ ability to effectively communicate with students and the public. Called “Astronomy Ambassadors” (Gurton et al. 2013), the program provides mentoring and training experiences for young astronomers, from advanced undergraduates to new faculty; it also provides access to resources and a net- work of contacts within the astronomy EPO community. 415